Controversial New Britain Fire Chief Retires

A month after declaring that he intended to stay, embattled Fire Chief Thomas Ronalter retired Monday.

Ronalter, who has been on administrative leave since mid-August, leaves as Mayor Erin Stewart was looking into allegations of bias and mismanagement against him.

Ronalter made no reference to them in his retirement notice, nor in the three-page separation agreement that his attorney reached with the city. The agreement says Ronalter will leave Oct. 2, and that neither he nor the city will make statements about each other that go beyond what's in his personnel file.

Deputy Chief Peter Margentino will remain as acting chief until a long-term replacement is hired. Ronalter, 56, will use vacation time for his remaining two weeks; he will receive 10 years of city-paid medical insurance and an annual pension of about $100,000, the city said.

Ronalter's departure ends what was becoming a particularly divisive controversy, with the Latino Coalition and the local NAACP pressing for his resignation.

A city report this summer concluded the fire department suffered from a fractured leadership team; the report did not prove bias in hiring or discipline, but said perceptions of racism and favoritism were worsened by Ronalter's "racial insensitivity."

On Monday, city council President Pro Tem Jamie Giantonio said those findings caused concern among residents and the council.

"The bottom line is that what was in the report was certainly troubling. This (retirement) allows us to move on in a positive direction," Giantonio said.

Ronalter previously denied the allegations, declaring in mid-August that he wouldn't be leaving.

"I understand that some people are calling for my resignation but I will not be resigning," he said at the time.

"While I agree the fire department has issues to resolve, I disagree with many of the findings in the report" he wrote, adding it was "not as fair and balanced as it should be."

In an email statement Monday night, Ronalter said nothing directly about the controversy, instead detailing progress during his tenure. He said the department now has safer equipment and better training.

"We have increased engagement with all segments of the community. I am particularly proud of the fact that 50 percent of our new firefighter hires during my tenure have been minorities and women," he wrote.

"I was born and raised in New Britain, and I have been honored and privileged to serve the city for 35 years as a firefighter, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and chief of department. I am fortunate to have worked with talented New Britain firefighters and fire officers over these decades," Ronalter wrote. "Amongst both grandfathers, my brother and myself, we have given over 120 years of service to the department."

Contacted by email Tuesday, Ronalter declined further comment.

Stewart issued a statement saying "Chief Ronalter has served the New Britain Fire Department for more than 36 years. I wish him well in his future endeavors."

"At this time, I intend to conduct a national search for a new chief. We will continue to usher the department through the 21st century. It is my goal and intention to increase confidence and professionalism within our fire department," she wrote.

Ronalter was named chief by then-Mayor Tim O'Brien in 2013, and his supporters contend he was particularly effective at managing department finances during lean budget years.

"During his time a lot of good things have happened. He's a good man, I know he's not racist and I'll defend him against 'favoritism' to anyone," Fire Commission member Sharon Rodrigue-Baretta said Tuesday. "This is a sad day. I wish we could have sat down with everyone and worked out a way to move forward together."

Ronalter last month declared, "I detest racism and all of the harm it causes ... I know that I personally must work to overcome unconscious bias."

A report by the DCB Law Group and the city's personnel office indicated widespread morale trouble at the department.

"There is a strong and compelling perception amongst the overall membership of the NBFD that the administrative leadership ... is deficient and dysfunctional, mired by a lack of consistent affirmative communication, unfair treatment and favoritism," the report said.

When the report surfaced last month, Stewart put Ronalter on paid administrative leave and she she'd conduct her own investigation. That had proceeded in recent weeks as she interviewed Ronalter's deputies.

The investigation was prompted by a black firefighter's complaint that Ronalter never put up a portrait of the late Mark Carr, the city's only black fire chief, at fire headquarters. A display there included portraits of other former chiefs, but Carr's wasn't added despite inquiries from the firefighter and Carr's widow over a period of years.